Fostering Community: Ben Davis High School Senior Class Officers Take Charge

As students return to Ben Davis High School, senior class leaders are setting a positive tone by fostering a welcoming environment on campus. Superintendant Dr. Jeff Butts highlighted the efforts of three student leaders who held welcome signs outside the school, signaling their commitment to supporting their peers.

Nate Villa, one of the senior class officers, shared his sentiments: "The one that I was holding said good luck on your first day of school."

Villa's goal is to cultivate camaraderie among students. He hopes they feel supported and have peers who are trying to encourage them throughout their days.

Senior Class Officer Faith Oluwamuyemi added, "I hope they relate to us. We're there with them, and we understand what they're going through because we've gone through it too."

In addition to their welcoming activities, these senior officers are actively engaged in community service, particularly through volunteering at the Care Closet at Ben Davis. The Care Closet provides essential supplies to students in need.

Nate Villa explained, "It consists of clothing, hygiene products, lots of products where people who may not be able to afford or people who are in need, they can come to that closet so that they can have stuff that they need."

Administrative Assistant Melissa Edwards has been a steadfast presence at Ben Davis, managing resources like the Care Closet and food pantry. She started the food pantry about 14 years ago after a personal experience in a shelter.

Edwards noted, "We do send the students home with backpacks. The food is in backpacks. We don't do grocery bags. Everything is private. No one would know anything."

The senior class officers are determined to make their senior year unforgettable, with a focus on giving back and promoting positivity.

Uluwamuyemi said, "That's the culture of Ben Davis, just having a great community and bringing everybody together and just being a good person."

Superintendant Dr. Butts commended the student leaders' efforts, emphasizing that they are reinforcing the "student belonging focus area" in the Wayne Township School strategic plan.